Facts For The Future
Text: 2 Pet.3: 12
Theme: Peter admonished his readers to realize that...
I. THE END IS NEAR
2 Pet.3: 10 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
NOTE: [1] The words, “the day of the Lord,” make reference to “…end-time events that begin after the Rapture and culminate with the commencement of eternity.”
[2] Some of the end-time events that are alluded to here, are found in Matthew 24: 4-42. Some of the prominent events are as follows:
[2a] False messiahs will deceive many (Matt.24: 5).
[2b] Wars and rumors of wars will be prevalent (Matt.24: 6, 7a).
[2c] Widespread famines, pestilence, and earthquakes will afflict the people of earth (Matt.24: 7b).
[2d] Persecution of Tribulation saints, as well as widespread distrust and hatred will be the norm (Matt.24: 9 & 10).
[2e] False prophets will deceive many on the earth (Matt.24: 11).
[2f] Sin and evil will be rampant, while human compassion and love will be practically nonexistent (Matt.24: 12).
[2g] The gospel of the coming kingdom of Christ will be preached throughout the world (Matt.24: 14).
[2h] The temple in Jerusalem will be desecrated, as the anti-christ is revealed to the world, and persecution and deception begins in earnest. God’s judgment will be leveled against the earth in an unprecedented way (Matt.24: 15-28).
[2i] The sun and the moon will be darkened, and stars will fall from the sky (Matt.24: 29-31).
II. AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE IS NEEDED
A. We Are To Be An Expectant People.
2 Pet.3: 12 “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
NOTE: [1] The words “looking for” mean, “to expect, look for, wait for.”
[2] The word “hasting” basically carries the idea of:
…hastening on, i.e., “causing the day of the Lord to come more quickly by helping to fulfil those conditions without which it cannot come…by faith and prayer”…All of which means that Peter teaches here that the saints can hasten the coming of the day of God by a holy life.
[3] Peter says that the saints should look expectantly, and with anticipation for the “…coming of the day of God” (v. 12a). This term refers to “the commencement of eternity.”
B. We Are To Be An Exemplary People.
2 Pet.3: 11 “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
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14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peach, without spot, and blameless.”
NOTE: [1] In lieu of the coming judgment of God upon the earth, Peter says our “…manner of life” (“conversation”) should be affected. He tells his readers that the knowledge of God’s coming judgment upon this present world should be an ample incentive for endeavouring to live a holy, godly, and blameless lives. The condition of this world, coupled with the fact that one day God’s judgment will fall, makes holy living on the part of the saints imperative.
[2] Too often, even Christians fall into the trap of minimizing sin. The world often does this by making sin sound better, as follows:
[2a] Fornication= A “serious,” or “meaningful relationship.”
[2b] Homosexuality (sodomy)= “Alternate lifestyle,” or “gay lifestyle.”
[2c] Infanticide (murder of babies)= “Abortion,” or “voluntary termination of pregnancy.”
[2d] Whoredom= “Prostitution,” “ladies of the night,” or “working girls.”
III. AN EVANGELISTIC ATTITUDE IS NECESSITATED
2 Pet.3: 15 “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”
NOTE: [1] The word “account” means, “to consider, deem.”
[2] The idea behind the first phrase of this verse is that, “The longsuffering of God gives opportunity for repentance and thus salvation for the lost who put their trust in the Lord Jesus.”
IV. AN EXTREME ALERTNESS IS NECESSARY
A. We Must Maintain Our Steadfastness.
2 Pet.3: 17 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”
NOTE: Peter encourages the saints to be on their guard, so that they will not be deceived by the wickedness of evil men, and the world, and thus fail to stand their ground for truth—to “…maintain their secure position in the truth.”
B. We Must Mature Spiritually.
2 Pet.3: 18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Theme: Peter admonished his readers to realize that:
I. THE END IS NEAR
II. AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE IS NEEDED
III. AN EVANGELISTIC ATTITUDE IS NECESSITATED
IV. AN EXTREME ALERTNESS IS NECESSARY
